Sustainable Development, as Defined by the Brundtland

Sustainable development, as defined by the Brundtland Commission (1987) is "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." [footnoteRef:1] By definition, then, sustainable development is development that takes the impact on the environment into account and tries to minimize environmental damage. This contributed to the understanding that sustainable development encompasses a number of areas and highlights sustainability as the idea of environmental, economic and social progress and equity, all within the limits of the world's natural resources. Sustainable Development is about balanced and equitable economic development. high levels of employment, social cohesion and inclusiveness, a high level of environmental protection and responsible use of natural resources, coherent policy making in an open, transparent and accountable political system and effective international co-operation to promote sustainable development globally.[footnoteRef:2] [1: Brundtland Commission, "Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development," United Nations General Assembly (December 11, 1987). Accessed August 19, 2011. http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/42/ares42-187.htm2 "Sustainable Development," Consult NET Engineering Solutions. Green Leaf Publishing (2009). Accessed August 19, 2011. http://www.consultnet.ie/Sustainable%20Development.htm ] [2: ]

The 1992 Rio Earth Summit, attended by 152 world leaders, established a plan of action, and a recommendation that all countries should produce national sustainable development strategies. However, despite binding conventions and numerous detailed reports, there seems to have been little known about the details to ordinary citizens around the world. Little has changed in poverty levels, inequality or sustainable development, as the World Development Movement notes since the summit.[footnoteRef:3] [3: Kate Blagojevic, "What the world Development Movement wants from the G20." World Development Movement (April 1, 2009). Accessed August 19, 2011. http://www.wdm.org.uk/what-world-development-movement-wants-g20 ]

In March 2005 the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment was released. This report contained a number of conclusions which included the following points. 1) Everyone in the world depends on nature and ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a decent, healthy and secure life. 2) Humans have made unprecedented changes in recent decades to meet the growing demands for food, fresh water, fiber, and energy in order to improve the lives of billions. Simultaneously they have weakened nature's ability to deliver other key services. 3) Human activities have taken the planet to the edge of a massive wave of species extinction, threatening our own well-being. 4) The loss of services from the ecosystem is a significant barrier in the reduction of poverty, hunger, and disease. 5) The ecosystem will continue to face growing pressure in the coming decades unless human attitudes and actions change. 6) Measures to conserves natural resources are more likely to succeed if local communities are given ownership, share benefits, and are involved in decisions. 7) Today's technology and knowledge can considerably reduce the human impact on ecosystems, however until ecosystem services cease to be perceived as free and limitless they are unlikely to be fully deployed. 8) Better protection of natural assets will require the efforts of all governments, businesses, and international institutions. The productivity of the ecosystem is dependent on policy developed on investment, trade, subsidy, taxation, and regulation.[footnoteRef:4] [4: Walter Reid et al., Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Synthesis Report, (March 23, 2005). Accessed August 19, 2011. http://matagalatlante.org/nobre/down/MAgeneralSynthesisFinalDraft.pdf ]